Doctor of Education (EdD)

Program Info

Completed admission packets for the doctoral cohort that will begin each Fall are due in Enrollment Services by 4:30 p.m. on March 15 each respective year.

The MSU doctorate in education (EdD) is designed to meet the distinctive needs of P–12 practitioner-leaders by addressing the call put forth by the Southern Regional Education Board and others to ensure that there is a “quality leader in every school.” There are two main tracks in the proposed program. The program’s first track, focusing on P-12 Administrative Leadership, provides opportunities for P–12 educators to remain on the job and be involved in rigorous leadership training while conducting research designed to bring about improved student achievement in their schools. The second track of Educational Technology Leadership is designed for the educational leader to provide leadership and support of colleagues through instructional design, curriculum development, and educational technology implementation and integration.

This is a practitioner-based doctorate designed to provide advanced training for those P-12 and technology leaders on the job. The overall goal of the program is to improve the educational attainment of residents of the eastern region of Kentucky.

"The principle goal of education is to create men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done; men and an women who are creative, inventive and discoverers who have minds which can be critical, can verify, and not accept everything they are offered."

Three completed
EdD Candidate Recommendation Forms
. At least three professional references from persons in a position to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in a doctoral program, at least one to be completed by immediate or up-line supervisor familiar with the candidate's leadership ability, or (for Ed. Tech strand) professional familiar with candidate's use of technology, instructional design, and training; others to be completed by professional colleagues or university faculty. Note: Please notify individuals completing the recommendation that they will be completing the form online. The URL for the recommendation form is
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FHP3WD8
.

Documentation of previous statistical methodology, research related coursework or evidence of use and application of data-informed decision making to determine possible need for statistical methodology coursework.

Admission REQUIREMENTS

Application Process

The application process will consist of completion of an application submitted to Enrollment Services at MSU with the accompanying items listed below in the application file. MSU EdD faculty members will initially review applications. Applicants who are considered likely potential candidates will be interviewed by an admissions committee composed of MSU EdD faculty members and educational partners. In order to choose the most outstanding applicants, the EdD admissions committee will make selections based on a holistic evaluation of the candidate's application file, including:

Recommendations must be received from at least three professional references from persons in a position to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in a doctoral program: at least one to be completed by immediate or up-line supervisor or (for Ed. Tech track) professional familiar with candidate's use of technology, instructional design, and training; others to be completed by professional colleagues or university faculty who are familiar with the applicant; (Applicants, please forward the following link to persons agreeing to provide a recommendation for you:
MSU EdD Recommendations
or (
www.surveymonkey.com/s/FHP3WD8
);

Documentation of previous statistical methodology, research related coursework or evidence of use and application of data-informed decision making to determine possible need for statistical methodology coursework.

Three completed
EdD Candidate Recommendation Forms
. At least three professional references from persons in a position to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in a doctoral program, at least one to be completed by immediate or up-line supervisor familiar with the candidate's leadership ability, or (for Ed. Tech strand) professional familiar with candidate's use of technology, instructional design, and training; others to be completed by professional colleagues or university faculty

Documentation of previous statistical methodology, research related coursework or evidence of use and application of data-informed decision making to determine possible need for statistical methodology coursework.

Admission Rubric

Admission Criteria

Minimal

1 point

Average

2 points

Outstanding

3 points

Score

Master's Degree in Education or related field from accredited institution: required

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-----------

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yes/no

Graduate degree grade point average

Years of related professional/leadership or educational technology, instructional
design and training experience

Analytical Writing score or sample (Note: Candidates who do not have a GRE analytical writing score will be asked to submit an on-demand writing sample.)GRE analytical writing score of 2.0 or below: Displays serious weaknesses in analytical writing. The writing is seriously flawed in at least one of the following ways: serious lack of analysis or development; lack of organization; serious and frequent problems in sentence structure or language usage, with errors that obscure meaning. Writing is considered minimal.

GRE analytical writing score of 2.0 or below: Displays serious weaknesses in analytical writing. The writing is seriously flawed in at least one of the following ways: serious lack of analysis or development; lack of organization; serious and frequent problems in sentence structure or language usage, with errors that obscure meaning. Writing is considered minimal.

GRE analytical writing score of 2.5 to 3.0: Displays some competence in analytical writing skills, although the writing is flawed in at least one of the following ways: limited analysis or development, weak organization; weak control of sentence structure or language usage, with errors that often result in vagueness or lack of clarity. Writing is considered average to below average.

GRE analytical writing score of 3.5 or higher: provides competent analysis of complex ideas; develops and supports main points with relevant reasons and/or examples; is adequately organized; conveys meaning with reasonable clarity; demonstrates satisfactory control of sentence structure and language usage but may have some errors that affect clarity. Writing is considered excellent.

P-12 Administrative Leadership Track

Letter of introduction/interest

States professional goals, leadership style, and educational philosophy. A holistic evaluation will be made of the candidate's letter of introduction considering indications of dispositions, personal leadership philosophy, evidence of ability to improve student achievement using effective teaching/learning practices, written communication skills, and use of best practices. These criteria will be holistically scored to reflect leadership ability and potential as well as an assessment of the candidate's prospective success in the Ed. D. program.

Educational Technology Leadership Track

Letter of introduction/interest

States professional goals, experiences using and integrating technology in education, instructional design, or training, and leadership and educational philosophy including a focus on technology. A holistic evaluation will be made of the candidate's letter of introduction/ considering indications of dispositions, personal educational technology philosophy, evidence of ability to improve student achievement using effective teaching/learning practices, written communication skills, and use of best practices. These criteria will be holistically scored to reflect educational technology ability and potential as well as an assessment of the candidate's prospective success in the Ed. D. program.

Letter of Introduction/Interest Evaluation Criteria

A "minimal" score reflects evaluator concerns about the person's dispositions, stated beliefs, record of behaviors or potential for success in the program.

An "average" score is an indication that the evaluator believes the person's dispositions, stated beliefs, and record of behaviors indicate significant potential for success in the program.

An "outstanding" score is an indication that the evaluator believes the person's dispositions, stated beliefs, and record of behavior indicates a very high probability for success in the program.

Recommendation Forms

At least one to be completed by immediate or up-line supervisor; others to be completed by professional colleagues or university faculty who are familiar with the candidate's leadership ability.

Educational Technology Leadership Track

Three completed EdD Candidate Recommendation Forms. At least one to be completed by professional familiar with candidate's use of technology, instructional design, and training; others to be completed by professional colleagues or university faculty who are familiar with the candidate's leadership ability.

Recommendation Evaluation Criteria

A "minimal" score indicates that at least one of the recommendations reflects concerns about the person's dispositions, stated beliefs, record of behaviors or potential for success in the program.

An "average" score is an indication that none of the recommendations reflect any significant concerns about the person's dispositions, stated beliefs, and/or record of behaviors. Further, the recommendations should indicate significant potential for success in the program.

An "outstanding" score is an indication that the recommendation forms suggest the person's dispositions, stated beliefs, and record of behaviors point toward a very high probability for success in the program.

Resume/vita

The resume will be holistically evaluated to determine how the person's past educational and work experiences have established a basis for continued development of higher level leadership skills.

A "minimal" score indicates concerns about the person's past educational and work experiences as reflections of potential for success in the program.

An "average" score is an indication that the person's past educational and work experiences reflect significant potential for success in the program.

An "outstanding" score is an indication that the person's past educational and work experiences point toward a very high probability for success in the program.

Interviews

Individual and group interviews will be conducted with a minimum of two EdD faculty members. Applicants at a distance may be interviewed via audio/video technology solutions. A holistic evaluation will be made of the applicant during the interviews considering dispositions, personal leadership philosophy, evidence of ability to improve student achievement using effective student-centered teaching/learning practices, communication skills, use of best practices, and integrated use of technology. These dispositions, stated beliefs, and record of behaviors will be holistically scored to reflect leadership ability and potential as well as an assessment of the candidate's prospective success in the Ed. D. program.

A "minimal" score reflects faculty concerns about the applicant's dispositions, stated beliefs, record of behaviors or potential for success in the program.

An "average" score is an indication that faculty believe the applicant's dispositions, stated beliefs, and record of behaviors indicate significant potential for success in the program.

An "outstanding" score is an indication that evaluators believe the applicant's dispositions, stated beliefs, and record of behaviors indicate a very high probability for success in the program.